August 23, 2001

Present:  Chairman DiPrete, P. Guida, S. Duff, J. Gaines, M. Mancieri, G. Grove, C. Callahan and H. Gallo.

Public Remarks: There were no public remarks.

Chairman's Remarks:

Chairman DiPrete reported on the following:

• Regent Patrick Guida attended a conference in Alexandria, VA July 20 - 22 for new board members sponsored by NASBE.  Regent Guida gave members a brief overview of the session;
  

• Mr. DiPrete attended the NASBE Leaders Conference in Williamsburg Aug. 16 - 19th. The conference was very informative and he will be distributing copies of materials that he found interesting; including a piece on what parents, students, and the general public feel about standards and students at risk; 
  

• He represented the Board at the Teacher Award Ceremonies for Math and Science held at the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick;
  

• This morning he and the Commissioner attended the "Kids Count Ceremony" at St. Joseph's Hospital; and
  

• He will be in Warwick tomorrow to participate in a workshop on the newly-released assessment results.
  

• Mr. DiPrete and the Chairwoman of the Board of Governors, Sarah Dowling, have been talking about finding a replacement for Elia Germani to serve on the Board.  He would like to have a new appointee in place for the next meeting.

The chairman also talked about the letters and e-mail messages he has been receiving regarding the termination of funding to the Providence Mentor, Inc. programs.  Mentor, Inc. is an organization for GED preparation for adults (usually non-English speaking adults) in the city of Providence.  The chairman has received several letters from concerned students about the funding issue and the letters have been answered.  The Commissioner will talk more about the issue in his remarks later in the meeting.

There will be a RIDE-wide coffee meeting on Thursday, September 30, at 9:00 am. The chairman encouraged Board members to attend.

Approval of Minutes of the Board of Regents Meeting of June 28, 2001 and the Board of Regents' Retreat of June 28, 2001

MOVED AND SECONDED:  That the Board of Regents approved the minutes as presented.

VOTE:  Approved unanimously.

Board of Regents Committee Reports

A) High School Restructuring - Regent Callahan reported that she had attended the Principals Institute where she had outlined and discussed some of the recommendations coming out of the High School Summit and Regents Committee. She listed the priority areas as: literacy, school design, and graduation requirements.  She also said that at the principals meeting, the principals had the opportunity to "vent" their concerns about their lack of authority and the difficulties in moving ahead with literacy and graduation requirement mandates.  Board members discussed the notion of "leadership" not only at the principals level but also by teachers.

B) Human Resource Committee  - Regent Mancieri reported that the Personnel Committee has been meeting with the Commissioner and had a couple of telephone conference calls about various personnel issues.  The Commissioner introduced two new hires to the Department: Elliot Kreiger, the Media Relations Specialist; and Diane Scheafer, who will succeed Diane DiSanto, as the Director of Instruction.

C) School Administrator and Teacher Quality and Support Committee - Regent Gaines reported that the committee met on July 9, 2001.  The three agenda items they considered will come before the Board tonight  - two for vote and one for information only.

D) Progressive Support and Intervention Committee - Regent Guida reported on a number of issues discussed at the last PSI meeting, including funding issues related to Providence and Central Falls.  Members also discussed the dilemma of whether school/district intervention could be voluntary as well as department-based.

Overview of Teacher Certification Advisory Board:

Director of Teacher Certification, Doris Anselmo, reviewed the law governing the Teacher Certification Advisory Board including the make up of the Board and the work that the Board will be involved in.  The first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2001.  A copy of the law is attached.

Commissioner's Report

The Commissioner reported on the following:

• School suspensions: A resolution presented by Representatives Abdullah-Odiase, Shavers, and Munschy dealing with school suspension issues passed the House.  Its charge is to end racial bias.  The Commissioner will be working with the chairman of the Board of Regents to make recommendations on a plan of action that will be brought back to the General Assembly no later than September 30, 2001.
  

• State Assessment Update: Maryann Snider, the Director of Assessment, reported that the Department would be hosting a series of assessment workshops to review local test scores.  Ms. Snider briefly reviewed Rhode Island's accountability system and talked about how and what criteria could be used to determine if local schools need low, moderate, or high support or intervention.
  

• Providence Update - The commissioner updated the Board on Providence Teacher and Budget negotiations and the hiring of certified and non-certified teachers to fill the forty-one vacancies remaining in the system.
  

• He also reported on the funding issues surrounding the Mentor, Inc. Program. The Department contracted with Providence for a two-year program but, because of budget conflicts, has decided to redirect their resources.  Mentor, Inc. will be challenging Providence in Court. The Commissioner met with Mr. Mossberg, the Director of Mentor, Inc., to discuss the problem. 
  

• The Commissioner will be on the Arlene Violet Show this week;
  

• School Openings - School Calendar and Status of Teacher Contracts - The Commissioner announced that schools are scheduled to start opening as early as August 28 in Woonsocket and as late as September 6 in Middletown.  He also reported that as of August 7, 2001 the following districts do not have teacher contracts: Exeter-West Greenwich, Middletown, Narragansett, New Shoreham, RI School for the Deaf and South Kingstown, and Providence.

Approval of Proposed Regulations for School Business Administrator Certificate for Purpose of Public Hearing 

RIDE staff member, Joseph Gaudiosi reviewed the process used to develop the proposal for public hearing.  There was a brief discussion concerning the professional development and portfolio piece of the proposal.

MOVED AND SECONDED:  That, the Board of Regents Accepts, for purpose of Public Hearing, the Proposed Regulations for the School Business Administrator Certificate, as recommended by the Board of Regents Teacher and Administrator Quality and Support Committee.

VOTE:  Approved unanimously.

Approval of Waiver Protocol for Issuance of Principal Certificate

Doris Anselmo, Director of Teacher Certification, explained that the proposed protocol would allow the Commissioner the authority to waive certificate requirements for principals.  Regent Gaines urged members to vote in favor of the proposal in light of the current shortage of principal candidates and knowing that the Commissioner is very cognizant of the "Board's" concerns about how and when this waiver should be used.

Regent Callahan expressed her concern about waiving certification requirements.

MOVED AND SECONDED: That the Board of Regents Approve the Proposed Waiver Protocol for Issuance of Principal Certificate, as Recommended by the Board of Regents Teacher and Administrator Quality and Support Committee.

VOTE:  7-1 (Regent Callahan opposed)

Final Approval of FY 2002- FY 2007 Capital Budget Request

Dr. Dennis Cheek, Director of Office of Research, High School Reform, and Adult Education, briefly reviewed the "minor" changes made to the original budget as proposed on June 28, 2001.

MOVED AND SECONDED: That, the Board of Regents Approves the FY 2002-2007 Capital Budget.

VOTE:  Approved unanimously.

Approval of Board of Regents Mission Statement

MOVED AND SECONDED: That the Board of Regents Affirm the Current Mission Statement for the Board of Regents and Department of Education as "The mission of the Rhode Island Board of Regents and Department of Education is to lead and support schools and communities in ensuring that all students achieve at the high level needed to lead fulfilling and productive lives, to compete in academic and employment settings and to contribute to society".

VOTE:  Approved unanimously.

Continuation of Board of Regents Retreat Discussion, Strategic Planning and Budgeting

The Commissioner reviewed the overall process and work that has been done both by the Regents and Department staff in preparation for the strategic planning and budgeting discussions.  He urged members to accelerate the pace and tension of the budget discussions, but to keep in mind the political realities of the state's fiscal environment.  Lita Orefice, Director of Finance, gave Board members an overview of the FY2002-2003 budget.  She began with a general explanation of the funding sources and appropriations lines and showed how the approximately $833M has been broken out: Teachers' retirement ($37M); Housing Aid ($31M); Federal ($122M); State Schools ($52M); Department ($15M); and State Aid ($576M).

Ms. Orefice also reviewed the Regents' request last year and what had actually been approved.  She then outlined the directions that the various departments receive from the Governor's office to develop their budgets.  (A complete copy of the presentation is attached).

Next, Ms. Orefice connected the budget discussion/proposals with the Regents' and Department's strategic planning discussions over the last couple of months.  She told members that, based on those discussions, we would like to request a 7.5% increase in state aid and expand the progressive support and intervention initiative, assessment funding, secondary reform, and professional development.

We also know we have to address budget issues and build support for Adult Education funding and professional development activities.  Over the next six weeks the Regents need to decide how much funding for each of these will be requested. The next step will be to develop "white papers" which will explain in detail how the funds will be used.  

Executive Session

As per RIGL 42-46-5, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. for Executive Session.

The meeting reconvened to open session at 7:30 p.m.

Chairman DiPrete reported that, during executive session, the Regents had voted unanimously to allow the Board of Trustees for the Rhode Island School for the Deaf to offer Dr. Reginald Redding, from Gallaudet University, a salary outside of the present range. Dr. Redding would also be allowed to enrol in ERS, contributions to a 403(b) plan. 

Adjourn

With unanimous consent, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.